The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-06-02
Winter Dalrying.
ILynchburg 'Virginian

The secret Of making and packing but
ter IN June so as to keep sweet and retain
Its flavor the following summer and winter,
seems to have died with our grandmothers
and has become one of the lost arts. Peo-
pie IN the cities refuse longer to indulge in
the trkined axle grease which is now offer
ed them instead of the prime old article,
and the stuff barely admits Of shipment
LII would appear necessary, therefore, that
some change in the matter of dairying,
which is now and has been for years usu-
ally in vogue in Virginia, should be made.
1t has been the custom to have a majority
OF the cows to come fresh in the spring, so
that the bulk of the butter is made at
time when it's consumption is limited by
the difficulty Of preserving it and by full
supply OF fruits and vegetables. If made
IN winter and sent fresh to market, it
would, If properly handled, always com
mand ready sale at remunerative prices
We see many reasons why it would be adj
vantageous to have the COWS bring in their
calves in the fall--say the 1st of October
it would be better for the owner aud for
the COWS ard calves as we'll. The COWS are
then strong and in good condition, and
there is ample time for them to recover
from the weakness of calving before cold
weather. In spring they are, as common
ly handled, gaunt and half-staryed, and tie |
coming of the calves nearly completes what
bad treatment has effected. Half the sum
mer is then required to put them In any
thing like condition. If full flow of milk |
were just beginning at the opening Of win |
ter, their masters would readily see some |
profit in keeping it up by good feed and
kind treatment, a matter which is not so
obvious where the flow is declining. AS
to the calves, if fed all the skim milk |
warmed they will drink, they will come
through in fine fix, ready for grass. The |
spring calf, on the other hand, goes into |
winter quarters just after being weaned,
and at a time when green food is almost
essential. Besides, the fall calf if kept |
growing from the start, as it ought to be, |
will attain the same weight at three years
old as the other at three and half, so that |
a saving of six months in time and keep is |
effected.
Finally, there is another reason for the
arrangement outlined Which'we fear is not |
considered in Virginia as it should be-
The care of the COWS, struggling with the
calves in separating them from their moth
ers at sucking, milking, churning, &c.,
is all left to the woman of the house. bur-
dens which are much too great for her to
carry in connection with her other duties;
and here may be found the cause Of this
slow progress of the dairy business in the |
South In the North these things are all
done by men in part or whole AS in Win
ter there is very little outdoor work to be
done, the men could easily find time to do
the milking or at least to help to doit. par
ticularIy in very bad weather.
We hope to see in time to come more
attention paid in this State to the products
of the dairy, and trusts that not many
years will elapse before all that is consum-
ed here of butter and cheese will be made
at home.
For Cholera, Diarrhcea, Dysentery,